Development of a simulator for hydraulic power plant personnel

Abstract

As annals show, the first hydroelectric power plants were built in Russia in 1802 – 1806. During the Soviet period of energy development, emphasis was placed on the special role of the country’s unified national economic electrification plan — GOELRO, which was approved on December 22, 1920. The chapter of the plan dedicated to hydropower was entitled "Electrification and water energy".

In today’s Russia about 1/3 of power is produced at hydroelectric power plants. Accordingly, there arise issues of advanced training of personnel of hydroelectric power plants, which can be provided by the introduction of simulators for targeted training of personnel to work, both in normal modes and in pre-emergency and emergency situations, as close as possible to real ones. Unfortunately, the developers of simulators in the Russian energy sector have so far focused on creating simulators for thermal power plants, leaving hydroelectric power plants neglected. It can therefore be assumed that this article, which examines a simulator with dynamic computer mimic diagrams of hydraulic units and electrical circuits of one of the Russian hydroelectric power plants, will arouse some interest among readers of the journal and potential customers. The article describes a prototype facility, the composition of the simulator, which includes a model of the facility and operating modes, a model of the control system, a model of the protection system, a model of locks, a model of emergency and warning alarms, describes in detail the training and methodological support of the simulator complex, including models of training scenarios, an input model, a monitoring program, protocols and instructions.

The hydroelectric power plant simulator presented in the article is versatile and can be applied both as a means of training and examination of operational personnel, and as a means for conducting professional skills competitions.